Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue for the pick-up and disposal of used railroad ties upon the completion of the scope of work required under its contracts, which is when the Company considers amounts to be earned (evidence of an arrangement has been obtained, services are delivered, fees are fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured). Accordingly, monies received or progress invoices for services for which contracts have not been completed have been recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. Direct costs, including but not limited to payroll, fuel, equipment rental, transportation expense and strapping costs for contracts which have not been completed are also deferred until the related revenue process is complete.

The Company receives revenue from the processing of railroad ties into scrap tie fuel and the sale of certain scrap ties to landscapers, railroad tie users (relay) and other railroad tie processors. These revenues are recorded when the ties or derivative materials are delivered to the customer.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include deferred revenue, costs incurred related to deferred revenue, the useful lives of property and equipment, and the useful lives of intangible assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all cash, bank deposits and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. An allowance is estimated from historical performance and current market and economic conditions. Uncollectible accounts are charged to operations if write offs are deemed necessary. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 no allowance has been provided as all accounts receivable are deemed collectible.

Under the completed contract method of revenue recognition the Company has recorded progress payments received for uncompleted contracts as deferred revenue in the amounts of $1,760,112 and $758,849 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These amounts represent unbilled future amounts due under existing contracts to be recognized as revenue upon the removal of all of each contract’s ties from the customer’s premises.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment owned and under capital leases are carried at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is provided using the straight line method for financial reporting purposes at rates based on the following estimated useful lives:

		Years
Machinery and equipment		3-7
Track on leased properties		4

Expenditures for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of property and equipment are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In evaluating the fair value and future benefits of its assets, management performs an analysis of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows of the individual assets over the remaining amortization period or an appraisal of market value is obtained.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Recorded financial instruments consist of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and short-term and long-term debt and lease obligations. The related fair values of these financial instruments approximated their carrying values due to either the short-term nature of these instruments or based on the interest rates currently available to the Company.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common stock equivalent shares consist of the dilutive effect of stock options and convertible preferred stock equivalents.

Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill is not amortized but rather is tested at least annually for impairment. The Company assesses impairment by comparing the fair value of the goodwill with its carrying value. The determination of fair value involves significant management judgment. Impairments are expensed when incurred. For goodwill, a two-step impairment model is used. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, goodwill would be considered impaired. The second step measures the goodwill impairment as the excess of the recorded goodwill over the asset’s implied fair value. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, there were no impairments of goodwill.

Intangible assets that have finite useful lives continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, as clarified by ASC 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities given the provisions of enacted tax laws. Deferred income tax provisions and benefits are based on changes to the assets or liabilities from year to year. In providing for deferred taxes, the Company considers tax regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, estimates of future taxable income, and available tax planning strategies. If tax regulations, operating results or the ability to implement tax-planning strategies vary, adjustments to the carrying value of deferred tax assets and liabilities may be required. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria of ASC 740.

ASC 740-10 requires that the Company recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the “more-likely-than-not” threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.

Inventory

Inventory includes the costs of material, labor and direct overhead and is stated at the lower of cost or market. Inventory is accumulated to service the landscape tie and scrap tie fuel markets. Inventory at September 30, 2011 was approximately $30,000 and was included in prepaid and other current assets on the balance sheet.

Retained Earnings Distributions

The Company’s preferred stockholders are entitled to receive payment before any of the common stockholders upon a liquidation of the Company. In addition, the Company is unable to pay dividends on its common stock until dividends are paid on its preferred stock.